In a garden, there are 6 daisy plants the first year. Each year, a gardener adds 3 new daisy plants. He has 26 jasmine plants the first year and loses 2 each year. When will the number of daisy plants equal to the number of jasmine plants after the first year?

Options:
a) 6 years
b) 4 years
c) 5 years
d) 2 years

SSC CGL Exam 2024 – Quantitative Aptitude

Solution with Short trick

Let daisy plants equal to the number of jasmine plants after n years

There are 6 daisy plants the first year and each year, a gardener adds 3 new daisy plants.
daisy plants after n year = 6+3n

26 jasmine plants the first year and loses 2 each year.
jasmine plants after n year = 26-2n

Number of daisy plants equal to the number of jasmine plants after n year
Therefore, 6+3n = 26-2n
=> 3n+5n (5n) = 26-6(20)
=> n =20/5 = 4 years

Correct Answer – 4 years

Another Method :

Plant Name	Initial	1st year	2nd year	3rd year	4th year
daisy plants	6 (Add 3 every year)	9	12	15	18
jasmine plants	26 (Subtract 2 every year)	24	22	20	18